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A 25-year-old area man has been charged with the rape of a minor after the mother of the victim became aware of the abuse in Putnam County.

Marco Jacinto-Mendez of Southeast was arrested Tuesday for two counts of rape and promotion of a sexual performance by a child, all felonies, said New York State Police Trooper AJ Hicks.

Troopers were alerted to the sexual assault by the mother of the victim that became aware an older man was having a relationship with her child, Hicks said.

An investigation discovered Jacinto-Mendez had unlawful sexual contact with the child over a time period when the victim was both under 15-years-old and under 17-years-old. Investigators also found unlawful images of the child performing sexual acts stored on Jacinto-Mendez’s cellular device.

Jacinto-Mendez was remanded to the Putnam County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 19.